Maternity girdle



Sept 20, 1966 R. P. BONANG 3,273,563

MATERNITY GIRDLE Filed sept. 18, 1964 RAYMOND l? BN/VG 5y QMM,

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,273,563 MATERNITY GIRDLE Raymond P. Bonaug, Calef Ave., Saco, Maine Filed Sept. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 397,566 8 Claims. (Cl. 12S-579) This invention relates yto maternity girdles and consists more particularly in new and useful improvements in a maternity girdle having an abdomen supporting pouch which is held in position on the wearer by a harness as sembly consisting of a continuous strap so designed and secured to the pouch as to uniformly supp-ort the upper and lower extrem-ities of the latter when criss-crossed over the shoulders and back of the wearer, thus providing a counteracting abdominal support. iIn other words, the pouch does not go slack or release its support in any position of the wearer and provides a continuous uplifting action which affords more freedom and comfort to the wearer.

Heretofore, various types of maternity girdles have been designed, lbut in all inst-ances with which I am farnilar, these prior devices have relied upon shoulder strap-s as their sole supporting means. Furthermore, the multiple straps of these prior girdles have not only been awkard to adjust and connect, but no attempt has been made to support the abdomen from both the upper front or top portion and the lower area. -An additional objection to known maternity girdles has been -the fact that in most instances they have employed straps or harnesses which pass through the crotch and between the wearers legs, thus causing irritation and binding, which naturally leads to considerable discomfort.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a maternity girdle having a pouch portion formed of a series of triangular shaped pieces of cloth designed and connected to conform substantially to the contour of the abdomen and supported in such a manner as to afford a continuous uplifting support by means of a continuous supporting strap or harness assembly which is connected to the pouch in such a manner as to give uniform and continuous support to both the upper and lower regions of the abdomen.

Another object of the invention is to provide `a maternity girdle which is effective in relieving backstrain in pregnant women, as wel-l as general fatigue.

Still another object of the invention -is yto provide an improved maternity girdle which will minimize stretch marks on the body of pregnant women.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a maternity girdle which eliminates the use of crotch-engaging straps to thus eliminate irritation and binding.

A still further obje-ct is to provide a maternity girdle which does not require snaps, buckles or hooks for securing it in place.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the girdle of the present invention in open position, illustrating the continuous strap arrangement as viewed from the rear face of the girdle;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view showing the girdle in place on a wearer;

FIG. 3 is a similar view in side elevation; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the supporting harness.

In the drawings, it will be seen 4that the girdle cornprises an abdominal support or pouch, generally indicated at `5, which is formed of a plurality of substantially triangular segments 5a5f, shaped and sewn together along adjacent edges in a manner to conform substantially to the contour of the wearers pendulous abdomen. These segments may be comp-osed of any suitable cloth and elastic material is not required, due to the conforming shape of the overall pouch. While the drawings show six segments -or panels, it will -be understood that this is purely for purposes of illustration, and the number of panels rnay be varied to suit varying conditions.

The end pouch panels 5a` and 5f are tapered at their longitudinal extremities to which are respectively secured overlapping waist bands l6 and l7, and, preferably, at the points of connection to the pouch, elastic inserts 8 are incorporated to accommodate the stretch points when the girdle is in place. Toward their respective ends, the waist bands 6 .and 7 are preferably provided with pairs of coacting strips 6a and 7m, of a material which is sold commercially under the trade name Velcro These strips are sewn on opposite sides of the respective waist bands so that when the latter encircle the waist of the wearer in the desired p-osition of adjustment, the Velcro strip 6a overlaps and contacts .the strip 7a, as shown in FIG. 4, and they are joined with a clinging effect through coaction of the engaging surfaces of the strips, a function `for which Velcro is especially designed. Thus, proper adjustment and fastening may be accomplished without the use of buckles, snaps, clasps, etc.

Extending across the lower boundary of the pouch S and suitably stitched to the front face thereof is the main supporting strap 9 of the harness assembly. Preferably, the intermediate portion of this main strap is stitched as at 10 to the adjacent lower extremities of the intermediate :fr-ont panels 5b, 5c, 5d and Se, the unstitched ends of the strap freely overlying the side pouch panels 5a and 5f. Opposite `free ends of the strap 9 respectively terminates in shoulder strap extensions 11 and 12, designed to pass over ythe back and shoulders of the wearer and criss-cross at the back, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The shoulder strap extensions l11 and `12 are of reduced width and their ends rare adapted to be looped through flattened metal or plastic rings 113 and 14 carried at the upper extremities of spaced elastic connecting strips 15 and 16, which `are preferably secured to pouch panels 5b and -Se respectively. After being passed through the rings 13 and 14, the ends of the respective shoulder straps 11 and 12 are folded upwardly upon themselves as at 11a and `12a (FIG. 2) and secured in the proper adjusted lengths by coacting Velcro strips 11b, 11e, `12b and 1i2c in a manner similar to the coacting strips Gai and 7a on the waist bands just described.

It will thus -be seen that when the girdle is properly adjusted on the wearer with the pouch 5 closely conforming to the abdomen, the main supporting strip 9 and its shoulder and baokstrap extensions 11 and 12 provide a continuous, counteracting supporting structure designed to afford uplifting support both across the lower front portion of the pouch and abdomen and across the upper edge lof the pouch. The elastic inserts 8 and elastic oonnecting strips 15 and 16 absorb and adjust any uneven tensions which may be felt by the wearer from the pull at the top of the stomach as compared with the pull from the bottom of the abdomen. Equal tension is exerted throughout the entire maternity girdle when the waistband `and supporting straps are properly adjusted.

Furthermore, due to the Velcro strips 6a, 7a, 11B, 11C, 12b and 12C, the girdle is easily secured and readily adjustable without the use of snaps, buttons or hooks of any kind.

The maternity girdle of the present invention is far more simple in design and construction than those heretofore known, and it embodies a novel principle not contemplated in prior constructions, namely, the employment of counter-supporting action. In other words, the tensions are such that if the wearer `bends forward, there will be no loss of support to the abdomen, and should the wearer bend her shoulders backwards, `the tensions will be transferred `over to the front straps with a lifting action which will afford no loss of tension to the abdomen.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous chan-'ges may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A maternity `,girdle comprising an abdominal pouch contoured to embrace the abdomen of a wearer, said pouch terminating at its opposite longitudinal extremities in waist encircling bands, means Ifor adjustably connecting the ends of said bands over the back of the wearer, a supporting harness consisting of a continuous strap, the central longitudinal area of which extends ac-ross and is secured to the central lower boundary of said pouch, the opposite longitudinal extremities of said strap beyond said central area being free from said pouch and respectively lterminating in elongated shoulder strap extensions which are directed diagonally upward to partially overlie `the adjacent portions of said pouch and adapted to` criss-cross over the back and pass forwardly and downwardly over the shoulders of the wearer, and means for adjustably securing the free ends of said criss-crossed extensions at spaced points along the upper longitudinal boundary of said pouch, whereby continuous and uniform support is provided for the abdomen along both the upper and lower extremities of said pouch.

2. A maternity girdle comprising an abdominal pouch contoured to embrace the abdomen of a wearer, said pouch terminating at its opposite longitudinal extremities in waist encircling bands, means for adjustably connecting the ends of said bands over the back of the wearer, a supporting harness engageable solely with portions of the wearers body located above the crotch, said lharness consisting of a continuous strap, the central longitudinal area of which extends across and is secured to the central lower boundary of said pouch, the opposite longitudinal extremities of said strap beyond said central area being free from said pouch and respectively terminating in elongated shoulder strap extensions which are directed diagonally upward to partially overlie the adjacent portions of said pouch and adapted to cross-cross over the back and pass forwardly and downwardly over the shoulders of the wearer, and means for adjustably securing the -free ends of said cross-crossed extensions at spaced points along the upper longitudinal bounda-ry of said pouch, whereby continuous and uniform support is provided for the adbomen along both the upper and lower extremities of said pouch.

3. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said waistbands are provided with elastic inserts and said shoulder strap extensions are connected to the upper boundary of said pouch by elastic means.

4. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pouch is formed of a `series of substantially triangular cloth panels converging at their lower ends and stitched together along adjacent edges.

5. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper edge of said pouch is provided with upwardly extending, elastic connecting straps, rigid rings carried at the upper extremities of respective elastic straps through which the free ends of said shoulder straps are adapted to be looped, and adjustable means on said shoulder straps for securing them in looped condition.

6. A maternity girdle comprising an abdominal pouch contoured to embrace the abdomen of a wearer, a waistband for securing said pouch in place, an integral supporting strap, the central longitudinal Iarea of which extends across and is secured to the central lower boundary of said pouch, the opposite longitudinal extremities of said strap forming shoulder engaging extensions directed diagonally upward and adapted to criss-cross over the back and pass forwardly and downwardly over the shoulders of the wearer, and means for adjustably securing the free ends of respective shoulder extensions to the upper boundary `of said pouch on opposite sides of the latter.

7. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper boundary of said pouch is provided at longitudinally spaced points with elastic connecting straps, rigid rings carried by said connecting straps through which the free ends of respective shoulder extensions are adapted to be looped, and means for adjustably securing lsaid shoulder extensions in looped condition.

8. A maternity girdle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said last-named mean-s comprise coacting Velcro strips secu-red on opposite surfaces of respective shoulder extension.

References Cited by the Examiner ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MATERNITY GIRDLE COMPRISING AN ABDOMINAL POUCH CONTOURED TO EMBRACE THE ABDOMEN OF A WEARER, SAID POUCH TERMINATING AT ITS OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EXTREMITIES IN WAIST ENCIRCLING BANDS, MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID BANDS OVER THE BACK OF THE WEARER, A SUPPORTING HARNESS CONSISTING OF A CONTINUOUS STRAP, THE CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL AREA OF WHICH EXTENDS ACROSS AND IS SECURED TO THE CENTRAL LOWER BOUNDARY OF SAID POUCH, THE OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EXTREMITIES OF SAID STRAP BEYOND SAID CENTRAL AREA BEING FREE FROM SAID POUCH AND RESPECTIVELY TERMINATING IN ELONGATD SHOULDER STRAP EXTENSIONS WHICH ARE DIRECTED DIAGONALLY UPWARD TO PARTIALLY OVERLIE THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID POUCH AND ADAPTED TO CRISS-CROSS 